Die holder for die conditioning machine



Oct. 16, 1962 J. E. BROWN ETAI. 3,958,270

DIE HOLDER FOR DIE CONDITIONING MACHINE Filed May 19, 1961 Q PIE- 1. a"6 2 0 1r E 56 y j 26 24 34 28 H- 3 l2 Q a l8 l/ I9 INVENTORS JOHN E.BROWN and HAROLD .4. OSTERBERG Aflorney ttes The present inventionrelates generally to die conditioning apparatus and more particularlyhas as its primary object the provision of an improved die holderassembly for supporting a wire-drawing die for ripping or lapping in adie conditioning machine.

Another object of the invention is to provide a wiredrawing die holderassembly wherein a die receptacle is mounted on and is provided with adriving connection with a rotatable platform so that a die to beconditioned can be positively rotated relative to the lapping pin of adie lapping machine.

It is another object of the invention to provide a wire-drawing dieholder assembly of the foregoing character wherein the die receptacle ismounted on the rotatable platform in such a manner to permit limitedshifting of the receptacle during the conditioning process so as toeffect self-centering of a die held in the receptacle relative to thelongitudinal axis of the lapping plIl.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a wire-drawing dieholder assembly which includes a receptacle comprised of a pair ofseparate spaced apart segments having matching semi-circular recessestherein which form a socket for receiving a die and which segments areheld in engagement with the die by means of a resilient band extendingaround the annular peripheries of the segments.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a wire-drawing dieholder assembly of the foregoing character wherein the drivingconnection between the platform and the die receptacle is effected bymeans of a lug projecting upwardly from the platform and a slot in thebottom of the receptacle in which the lug is received.

As a corollary to the object immediately above, it is a further objectof the invention to provide a wire-drawing die holder assembly of theforegoing character in which aligned grooves are formed in the outerannular walls of the segments coplanar with the slot in the bottom ofthe receptacle and the resilient band is disposed in the aligned grooveswhereby the band limits movement of the receptacle axially of the lugand also maintains the segments in engagement with the die.

These and other objects will become more apparent after referring to thefollowing specification and attached drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is an elevational view partly in vertical section; and

FIGURE 2 is a plan view taken on the line 11-11 of FIGURE 1 with partsbroken away to show underlying structure.

Referring more particularly to the drawings reference numeral 2designates generally the wire-drawing die holder assembly of theinvention shown mounted in the frame 4 of a die lapping machine forsupporting a wiredrawing die D in position for conditioning by a lappingpin 6 of the lapping machine.

The die holder assembly of the invention includes a platform 7 which ispreferably in the form of a horizontally disposed worm gear 8 having arecessed upper face into which is fitted a drive plate 10. The driveplate 10 which is provided with a center hole 20 is fixedly mounted inthe recessed upper face of the gear fififhlffi Patented Oct. 16, 1962 8by means of a pair of countersunk screws 12. The gear 8 is rigidlyfitted on the end of a hollow shaft 14 which depends from the gear andextends through a bushing 16 in the frame 4. The upper portion 18 of thebushing 16 is flanged and serves as a bearing for the gear 8. The upperend of the hollow shaft 14 is flush with the bottom of the recess in theupper face of the gear 8. Worm gear 8 is in mesh with and driven by aworm 19 which is fixedly mounted on a drive shaft 21 connected withsuitable power means (not shown).

A pair of aligned, diametrically extending lugs 22 project upwardly fromthe upper surface of the plate 10 and extend radially from oppositesides of the hole 20, as best shown in FIGURE 2.

The die receptacle 24 of the assembly consists of two semi-circularrecessed segments 26 which define a socket 28 for receiving thewire-drawing die D. The segments are held in engagement with the die bymeans of tWo tension-spring rings 30 and 32 which are received ingrooves 34 and 36, respectively, located in the outer annular walls ofthe segments 26. It will be noted that the inside diameter of the socket28 is equal to the diameter of the die D, however, the segments are notcomplete semi-circles and, therefore, when the segments are in positionaround the die, a diametrically extending slot 38 is formed between theadjacent bottom edges of the segments. Slot 38 receives the lugs 22 ofdrive plate 10 to :form a driving connection between gear 8 and thereceptacle 24. The slot 38 has a width greater than the thickness of thelugs 22 so as to permit the die receptacle to shift laterally a slightamount relative to the lugs. Such spacing to permit a slight amount oflateral movement between the die and the lapping pin is necessary torender the die self-centering so as to compensate for wear of machineparts which otherwise would result in throwing the axis of the lappingpin off-center relative to the axis of the platform and die receptacle.

The receptacle 24 has a center opening 40 through the bottom thereofwhich is aligned with and communicates with the center hole 20 of thedrive plate It) and the bore of shaft 14 so as to render the assembly ofthe invention self-cleaning.

In operation, the platform 7 is rotated at a relatively slow speed whilethe lapping pin 6, which is supported from above, is rotated at arelatively high speed, usually in the direction of rotation opposite tothe direction of rotation of the platform. During the die conditioningoperation the lapping pin is caused to reciprocate axially while it isrotating. The mechanism for rotating and reciprocating the lapping pinis well known in the art and is not shown herein. A typical example ofsuch mechanism is shown by Patent No. 2,465,867 issued March 29, 1949.

While one embodiment of our invention has been shown and described itwill be apparent that other adaptations and modifications may be madewithout departing from the scope of the following claims.

We claim:

1. A wire-drawing die holder assembly for a die lapping machine whichcomprises a rotatable platform, means connected with said platform forrotating the same, a diametrically extending lug projecting upwardlyfrom the surface of said platform, a die receptacle loosely mounted onsaid platform, said receptacle having a diametrically extending slot onthe bottom thereof for receiving said lug, said slot having a widthgreater than the thickness of said lug whereby said receptacle isshiftable laterally relative to the longitudinal axis of said lug. s

2. A wire-drawing die holder assembly for a die lapa ping machine whichcomprises a rotatable platform, means connected with said platform forrotating the same, an elongated central lug projecting upwardly fromsaid platform, a die receptacle loosely mounted on said platform, saidreceptacle including a pair of spaced apart segments having matchingsemi-circular recesses therein defining a socket for receiving aWire-drawing die, the adjacent bottom edges of said segments defining aslot therebetween for receiving said lug, the width of said slot beinggreater than the thickness: of said lug whereby said receptacle isshiftable laterally relative to said lug, and securing means disposedaround said segments to hold the same together around a wire-drawingdie.

3. A wire-drawing die holder assembly as defined by claim 2 in whicheach of said segments has a peripheral groove therein, the peripheralgroove in One segment being *aligned with the peripheral groove in theother, and said securing means comprises a resilient band seated in saidperipheral grooves.

4. A Wire-drawing die holder assembly as defined -by claim 3 in whichsaid peripheral grooves and the resilient band received therein areco-planar with said lug whereby motion of said receptacle axially ofsaid lug is limited by said resilient band.

5. A wire-drawing die holder assembly as defined 'by claim 2 in whichsaid platform and said socket have aligned center openings therethroughadapted to communicate with the opening of 'a wire-drawing die receivedin said socket.

6. A wire-drawing die holder assembly as defined lay claim 5 in whichsaid platform includes a substantially horizontally disposed worm gear,and said rotating means comprises a Worm in mesh with said Worm gear.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,578,163 Muehlieb Mar. 23, 1926 2,412,101 Srnyers Dec. 3, 19462,465,867 Gargano Mar. 29, 1949 2,591,298 Roux Apr. 1, 1952 2,835,496Hall May 20, 1958

